In 1936, a 21-year-old Alan Lomax, on his first solo ethnographic expedition, discovered a nation redefining its identity. He struggled with personal and technical challenges, but returned with 1,500 recordings and film — now available for the first time from Harte Recordings, the Lomax archive, and the Library of Congress.

Lonely woods and lost loves, deadly encounters and a waiting noose… the dark history of the murder ballad. Exclusive video interview and three original performances from country-music hero Charlie Louvin, and a murder ballad playlist. Two of Charlie's recordings were recently nominated for Grammy Awards.

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